Barkar Nash (Page 895)

Deputy PM Anutin confident coalition will support B500bn borrowing bill in House

The Bhumjaithai Party, as a member of the Pheu Thai-led coalition government, will support the 10,000-baht digital wallet scheme as long as it is lawful, Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said on Thursday.

The Bhumjaithai leader was responding to questions about Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin’s expression of concern that a draft bill to borrow 500 billion baht to fund the programme could hit a stumbling block.

The Council of State, the government’s legal advisory body, is currently studying the handout scheme, and in particular the borrowing proposal, to ensure it complies with related laws. The National Anti Corruption Commission is also monitoring developments as it has said there is a risk of policy corruption. Other agencies have also been asked to scrutinise the plan.

Mr Anutin expressed confidence that the bill would have the support of the coalition parties, which have a total of 320 votes in the 500-seat House. Bhumjaithai, with 71 seats, is the second-largest party in the 11-member coalition.

He said he was unaware that Mr Srettha had expressed any worries about the bill’s chances. In his opinion, every political party is duty-bound to push for its policies to be implemented.

The only policies that cannot be implemented are those that are against the law and regulations, particularly the constitution, Mr Anutin said.

Asked whether Bhumjaithai would focus mainly on legality in its decision to support the handout, he replied, “That’s right.”

“As a coalition partner, if a programme proposed by one party is lawful, we have to support one another. Otherwise we will not be able to put any policies into practice,” he added.

Some experts have pointed out that if the borrowing bill fails to get parliamentary approval, the prime minister would have to show responsibility. Since it is a financial bill proposed by the government, the premier would have to either resign or dissolve the House to call a new election.

Mr Anutin said that so far, the matter has not reached that stage.

Everything must go step by step, he said, adding that the prime minister had prepared to the best of his ability.

“Don’t forget that all parties in the coalition are duty-bound to support all government policies delivered to parliament by the prime minister,” he said. “It is not that one party would support only the policies it has proposed. A disagreement would only lead to the doom of the parties in conflict, as seen in the previous government.

“What is even more important is that the people would get nothing from disunity or disharmony. Therefore, we have to support one another, regardless of disagreements. The government’s policies are our mutual responsibility.”

Pol Gen Patcharawat Wongsuwon, a deputy prime minister and chief adviser to the Palang Pracharath Party, was also asked about the party’s support for the digital wallet. “I don’t know. It depends on the party leader,” he said, referring to his elder brother, Gen Prawit Wongsuwon.

He also brushed aside questions about whether Gen Prawit was preparing to step aside, saying his elder brother is still healthy and strong and still in charge of the party.

Asked whether Gen Prawit would resign from politics, Pol Gen Patcharawat said, “I don’t think so. He likes it.”

Deputy Prime Minister Pirapan Salirathavibhaga, leader of the United Thai Nation Party, said that as a coalition partner his party is duty-bound to support government policies provided that they do not cause any problems for society.

Department to suspend iguana imports due to surging population; concerns arise over infections and crossbreeding

The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation plans to suspend the importation of iguanas in response to its surging population in the wild across various provinces.

Attapon Charoenchansa, director-general of the department, said on Thursday that the suspension was prompted by the increasing sightings of iguanas in both natural habitats and public areas.

The growing population of free-roaming iguanas has raised concerns about potential infections and crossbreeding, as there are people who keep a substantial number of these reptiles as pets, Mr Attapon said.

Owners are not required to report ownership but they are obligated to care for these creatures until their natural demise and ensure the proper disposal of carcasses, he said.

It is illegal to set iguanas free, with the offence carrying penalties including imprisonment and fines of up to 50,000 baht, he added.

Although importation of iguanas was previously permitted, people were required to report such imports.

From 1990 to 2022, 11,622 iguanas were legally imported and 1,390 were exported.

In response to the recent reports of a substantial iguana population in the wild in Lop Buri province, Mr Attapon has instructed subordinates to survey the number of iguanas nationwide. 

According to reports, many of these animals were released from a closed hotel.

Wildlife authorities also express concerns over infections and crossbreeding

The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation plans to suspend the importation of iguanas in response to its surging population in the wild across various provinces.

Attapon Charoenchansa, director-general of the department, said on Thursday that the suspension was prompted by the increasing sightings of iguanas in both natural habitats and public areas.

The growing population of free-roaming iguanas has raised concerns about potential infections and crossbreeding, as there are people who keep a substantial number of these reptiles as pets, Mr Attapon said.

Owners are not required to report ownership but they are obligated to care for these creatures until their natural demise and ensure the proper disposal of carcasses, he said.

It is illegal to set iguanas free, with the offence carrying penalties including imprisonment and fines of up to 50,000 baht, he added.

Although importation of iguanas was previously permitted, people were required to report such imports.

From 1990 to 2022, 11,622 iguanas were legally imported and 1,390 were exported.

In response to the recent reports of a substantial iguana population in the wild in Lop Buri province, Mr Attapon has instructed subordinates to survey the number of iguanas nationwide. 

According to reports, many of these animals were released from a closed hotel.

The first group of 41 Thais, left stranded in northeastern Myanmar due to clashes between Myanmar soldiers and ethnic rebel groups, have been evacuated from Laukkaing to Kengtung in Shan State, awaiting repatriation to Thailand.

According to a report from the Pha Muang Force of the 3rd Army Region, the 41 Thais – 23 men and 18 women – arrived at Kengtung around 10.30pm on Wednesday.

They are to be repatriated through the Myanmar border town of Tachilek to Mae Sai district in the northern province of Chiang Rai.

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin told reporters in San Francisco on Tuesday (local time) that the Ministry of Defence is planning to complete the repatriation of the 41 Thais from Tachilek by Thursday or Friday.

Government spokesman Chai Wacharongke said on Wednesday that the Thai army had coordinated with the United Wa State Army through the Thailand-Myanmar Township Border Committee (TBC) to acilitate the evacuation of the 41 Thais to Kengtung.

The group is part of the 164 Thaisrecently rescued by the Myanmar authorities. They had been either lured to work in illegal call centres or had fallen victim to human trafficking networks.

Plans afoot to curb rate to 110 a year

Phuket aims to reduce road fatalities from 135 per year on average to 110 or better within the next year, while the provincial health office is offering 100,000 free influenza vaccine doses to tourists.

Governor Sophon Suwannarat said after a Phuket Road Safety Operation Committee meeting at City Hall on Wednesday that the province will toughen traffic measures to tackle road accidents.

From 2017-2022, Phuket saw 135 road accident deaths on average per year, or about 11 deaths per month.

Mr Sophon said road accident deaths from January to Nov 13 of this year stood at 141, an increase of 26 from the same period last year. So far this year, the island province has recorded over 18,600 casualties from road accidents.

The province will introduce urgent policies to improve road safety for both drivers and pedestrians, as well as prevent deaths and injuries. The governor said the city will strictly follow the Road Safety Master Plan for 2022-2027.

The meeting also agreed to regulate car rental operators and strictly enforce the rules: car or motorbike renters must hold a valid driver’s licence, and motorcyclists must wear a helmet at all times while riding.

Moreover, car rental businesses must not keep their clients’ passports during a rental period and only rent out legally registered cars with proper third-party insurance. The vehicles must also be well-maintained and roadworthy.

The committee also considered the draft of a road safety operation plan for 2024, guidelines which govern policies and lay out action plans for the effective prevention of road accidents.

Mr Sophon said Phuket has set a target of bringing road-accident deaths down to 22.57 per 100,000 of the population from next year.

Meanwhile, the Phuket Provincial Public Health Office is offering free influenza shots to both Thai and foreign tourists, following the Safety Phuket Island Sandbox measure.

The Phuket Public Health Office chief, Dr Kusak Kukiattikoon, said 100,000 free shots are being given under the Public Health Ministry’s Quick Win 100 Days Policy, which focuses on safe travel, public health emergencies, disease protection and a public health fund for tourists.

The vaccine service, which requires pre-registration, runs until tomorrow on the second floor of the Limelight Phuket department store from 9am-8pm and on Nov 26 at Phuket Chaloem Phrakiat Park from 3pm-6pm.